- For information on the presidential campaigns, see Bartlet for America (1998) and Bartlet for America (2002).
"Previously on the West Wing" spoken by
While the White House is festooned with Christmas finery, Leo (John Spencer) fears the worst when he testifies in the Congressional investigation into the President's (Martin Sheen) possibly criminal lack of public disclosure about his illness while flashbacks reveal the background of Leo convincing him to run and also a moment of weakness in Leo's past involving alchohol. When Cliff Calley (Mark Feuerstein) disocovers that an unscrupulous commitee member wants to make Leo's relapse public for sleazy political gains, he manages to spare Leo the embarassment.
In addition, the President is trying to deal with several torchings of Black churches in Tennessee and threats of new ones. He is worried that something will happen when the churches are full of people over Christmas. He's about to overrule the Governor of Tennessee and face the backlash that that will cause when FBI liaison Casper (Clark Gregg) tells Josh (Bradley Whitford) that they have found the people behind the burnings.
As Leo returns to his office, the President is there, and he presents Leo with the original note that Leo gave him to incite him to run, framed.
Summary
Opening
Leo speaks with Special Agent Mike Casper, FBI liaison: Seven Black churches in five Tennessee counties have received threats. Josh promises to be there for Leo, because Leo has promised to be there for Josh. Leo arrives for his testimony in front of the Congressional committee investigating the president's MS situtation. President Bartlett calls to encourage Leo and comments that Leo and his lawyer Jordan Kendall together are like a 50s screwball comedy.
Act I
Republican Majority Counsel Cliff Calley begins questioning Leo.
Flashback to the day Leo convinced then-governor Bartlett to run for president. Mrs. Landingham makes dinner reservations fro Bartlett and Abby. Leo presents a napkin on which he has written "Bartlett for President."
Back to present: Leo is asked if he would have advised the Bartlett to run for president if Leo had known about the MS. Leo stalls by chatting with his lawyer about lunch plans, but still does not answer the question.
Meanwhile, on the hill: Josh takes Mike Casper in to see President Bartlett, who is talking with governors and advisors about possibly sending troops in to protect the Black churches.
Act II Congressman Dearborn compares Abby about Edith Galt Wilson, wife of Woodrow Wilson, who ran the president for months after her husband's stroke.
Flashback to the campaign operating out of a storefront in Manchester, deciding which songs to play and popping a basketball back and forth. CJ breaks a window with the ball. The team decides to have Bartlett take a physical and release his stats before campaigning in South Dakota. Abby advises him that since he is in remission his MS will not show up on the physical. Bartlett expresses concern over whether not revealing his MS is lying to anyone.
Act III
Act IV
Quotes
- Leo McGarry: A podium is a holy place for him. . . .He makes it his own, like it's an extension of his body. . . . He sees it as a genuine opportunity to change minds, also as his best way of contributing to the team. He likes teams. I love him so much.
Trivia / Goofs
- When Josh asks Sam to look for someone to get Gibson out Leo McGarry's hearing, Sam flips through the pages of his contact-book and three of the pages have identical scribblings.
Cast
Starring
- Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn
- Stockard Channing as Abbey Bartlet
- Dulé Hill as Charlie Young
- Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg
- Janel Moloney as Donna Moss
- Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler
- John Spencer as Leo McGarry
- Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman
- and Martin Sheen as Jed Bartlet
Special Guest Star
Guest Starring
- Joanna Gleason as Jordon Kendall
- Mark Feuerstein as Cliff Calley
- Clark Gregg as Special Agent Michael Casper
- James Handy as Rep. Joseph Bruno
- Steven Gilborn as Rep. Paul Dearborn
- Doug Ballard as Governor Edward Pratt
- Todd Waring as Rep. Rathburn
- Mark Hutter as Rep. Erickson
- Kathryn Joosten as Mrs. Landingham
- NiCole Robinson as Margaret Hooper
- Ashley L. Clark as Alan
- Carlos Jacott as Allen
- Randy Thompson as CEO
- Dennis Haskins as CEO
- Ellis E. Williams as Reverend Algiss Skyler
Co-Starring
- David St. James as Rep. Darren Gibson R-MI
- Greta Sesheta as Congresswoman
- Joe O'Connor as Rep. Calhoun
- Judy Kain as Event Planner
- Thomas Carrington as Congressional Staffer
Template:Season 3